Newsroom

PORTLAND - Entrepreneurs wanting to start or expand a food-related business can learn about special issues affecting food business enterprises at a short course called "Northwest Food Business 101," scheduled Thursday, Feb. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center Experiment Station in Portland.

The center is located at 1207 N.W. Naito Pkwy, Suite 154.

The fee for the half-day course is $50 per person, which includes a workbook and light refreshments. For more information, or to register online, go to the center's website at http://fic.oregonstate.edu, call 503-872-6680, or send an e-mail inquiry to teri.hague@oregonstate.edu.

The NW Food Business 101 short course will be offered again at FIC on Thursday, May 27; Thursday, Aug. 26, and Thursday, Nov. 18.

"NW Food Business 101 was developed by the Food Innovation Center's business development team," said Aaron Johnson, food business strategy specialist at the center. "The course offers an overview of the key requirements for a useful food business plan and highlights some of the technical, product development, production, legal, insurance, marketing and distribution issues that affect new enterprises in the food industry sectors where the center is active."

The course uses an interactive, multi-faceted instructional format to introduce entrepreneurs to questions they will need to address if they plan on starting and running a food business, Johnson said.

Groups of 10 or more may participate in the program via videoconferencing facilities, which can be arranged by contacting Teri Hague at 503-872-6680, or by e-mail at teri.hague@oregonstate.edu.

"The Food Innovation Center is a collaboration of Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Agriculture," Johnson said. "It is a unique incubator for new food businesses and the only urban-based Agriculture Experiment Station in the United States."

The center's facilities include analytical laboratories, food production kitchens, package engineering and equipment development tools, sensory testing and market research facilities, as well as meeting spaces and training rooms.

For more information about the center and its programs, contact Carol Coren at 503-872-6657 or carol.coren@oregonstate.edu. -